“So, you want me to say goodbye and pretend I’m going straight home?”
“Yes.”
I shook my head, assuming she was stupid. After that story and the things I’d said to her in the car, she’d still said nothing to make me think things would be better.
I found her outside, standing with her old horse. We’d since got new ones at home, but she still felt close to the old one. “Iz, Da.., I’m leaving. I was wondering if I could have a hug for the road.”
She walked over and hugged me. I held her so tightly and could feel myself getting upset. She pulled away and walked back to her horse, like nothing had happened.
I climbed in my truck and waved to her as I drove away.
It was horrible looking back in the mirror and seeing her not paying attention to me.
After I sent a text to Miranda, I went in the guest-house and locked the doors. Then I jumped in the shower to clear my head. I appreciated the gesture from Van, but nothing was going to help me. I could only hope that at some point we’d be able to be close again. No matter how much she fought me, I knew I’d always love her.
She was my daughter and she always would be.
Chapter 36
Miranda
When Van called me and asked if she could tell Bella the truth, I wanted to beg her not to. The idea of Bella knowing what kind of monster her father was could ruin her worse. It definitely would change her perception, whether it would be for the good or the bad.
Finally, after we bickered for a while, I decided that anything was worth a try. I gave her my blessing and hung up more worried than ever before.
While waiting for a phone call, I bit off all of my finger nails, drank three cups of coffee and cleaned the entire house to stay busy. The boys were outside with their poppy, so the house was too quiet for me.
When I got the text from Ty, telling me that he was calling it a night, I knew things hadn’t gone well. If my husband didn’t want to talk at all, it meant he was too upset. My heart ached for him and Bella.
I lay in bed later that night wondering how we were all going to get through this. I couldn’t force my daughter to love Ty, not if her heart wouldn’t let her. I also couldn’t live with that kind of animosity between them. I balled up in the bed and sobbed uncontrollably, not understanding how our lives had turned so bad, so quickly.
The rationalization of what was going on was only half of our problems. In lieu of the truth, I worried that Bella would try to find Tucker’s living relatives. Had it not been for Van’s quick thinking about coming clean with her story, Bella and Noah could have already found the truth and planned to hunt down that wicked excuse for a mother, that tried to fight us for visitation of our sweet girl.
She was too young for all of this to be happening.
I remember how innocent she was before she’d gotten sick. Everyone used to tell us how perfect she was and how they wished their daughters would be like Bella. It made me feel so good about the way we were raising her and how lucky she was to have a father that loved her wholeheartedly. It was such a shame that the terrible truth had come out; all because Ty went out and bought his mourning family a puppy.
My brother showed up at my doorstep a little while later. I refused to answer the door, so he located the hidden key and came in himself. “Randa, where are ya?”
“In my room,” I said in between sobs.
He came in and sat on the edge of the bed. “Amy sent me over to check on you. She said she’s been tryin’ to call for hours. Where’s your phone?”
I shrugged. “Probably in the kitchen.”
“Look, I know you’re goin’ through some crazy shit, but cryin’ ain’t goin’ to solve nothin’.”
He would have been crying too if his daughter hated him. “You wouldn’t understand.”
“I get it. I know how hard it is. Did you forget that I’m with your husband as much as you are?”
“No, I didn’t forget.”
“Randa, do you want to go to Kentucky?”
I shrugged again. “I can’t leave the boys.”
“Amy already went over and got them. They’re stayin’ at our place tonight. Now, pack a couple things and I’ll drive your ass to the airport. Colt called earlier and asked me to get you there. He said Ty needs you and I agree.”
“He bought me a ticket?” Bella must have not taken Van’s story well. I feared for my family and what had taken place. “When is my flight?”
“In about two hours. Get yourself together and meet me outside. I’ll look after things here until you three get back.”
“Bella’s stayin’ there.” He knew the plan.
“No, she ain’t. She’s comin’ home with her parents where she belongs. This idea of yours is stupid. I should have come to you sooner with my opinion. Look, sis, Bella needs to know who is in control. You’ve given her too much freedom in all of this. You need to get your ass there and demand that she change. Show her who is the boss. So what if she’s mad? She’ll get over it. You and Ty are bein’ so ridiculous. You’re in control of this situation. If it hasn’t fixed itself yet, make it happen.”